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A Healthy Mouthfor Your BabyU.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESNational Institutes of Health
Healthy teeth are important—even baby teeth. Children need healthyteeth to help them chew and to speak clearly.And baby teeth hold space for adult teeth. Thisbooklet can help you keep your baby’s mouthhealthy and give him a healthy start!
A Healthy Mouthfor Your Baby1. Protect your baby’s teeth with fluoride.2. Check and clean your baby’s teeth.3. Feed your baby healthy food.4. Don’t put your baby to bed with a bottle.5. Take your child to the dentist by age 1.
Ann and her friend Maria were watching Maria’s children play.“What are you doing?” asked Ann.“I’m cleaning my baby’s teeth,” said Maria.“But your baby hardly has any teeth!” said Ann.“Yes, but the dentist said there are things I can do to keep mybaby from getting cavities,” said Maria.“But don’t baby teeth just fall out?” asked Ann.“Yes, but before they fall out baby teeth can decay and causepain for the baby. And baby teeth are important—they holdspace for adult teeth,” said Maria.
“What else did the dentist say?” asked Ann.“She told me that fluoride protects teeth. She also said to feedmy baby healthy foods and not to put my baby to bed with abottle,” said Maria.“When do you have to start taking care of a baby’s teeth?”asked Ann.“As soon as they come in. Teeth can start to decay as soon asthey appear in the mouth,” said Maria.“I’ll have to start thinking of those things soon!” said Ann.
1Protect your baby’steeth with fluoride.Fluoride (said like floor-eyed) protects teeth from tooth decay.It can even heal early decay.Fluoride is in the drinking water of many towns and cities.Ask a dentist or doctor if your water has fluoride in it. If itdoesn’t, ask about other kinds of fluoride (such as fluoridevarnish or drops) that can help keep your baby’s teeth healthy.
2Check and cleanyour baby’s teeth.Check your baby’s teeth.Healthy teeth should be all one color. If you see spots orstains on the teeth, take your baby to a dentist.CLEAN your baby’s teeth.Clean them as soon as they comein with a clean, soft cloth ora baby’s toothbrush. Cleanthe teeth at least once aday. It’s best to clean themright before bedtime.At about age 2 (or sooner if a dentist or doctor suggests it)you should start putting fluoride toothpaste on yourchild’s toothbrush. Use only a pea-sized drop of toothpasteabout as big as this—Young childrencannot get theirteeth clean bythemselves. Until they are 7 or 8 years old, you willneed to help them brush. Try brushing their teeth firstand then letting them finish.
3Feed your babyhealthy food. Choose foods without a lot of sugar in them. Give your child fruits and vegetables for snacks. Save cookies and other treats for special occasions.
4Don’t put your babyto bed with a bottle.Milk, formula, juice, and other drinks such as soda all havesugar in them. If sugary liquids stay on your baby’s teeth toolong, it can lead to tooth decay. (And decayed teeth cancause pain for your baby.)What’s one of the most important thingsyou can do to keep your baby fromgetting cavities?Avoid putting him to bed with abottle—at night or at nap time.(If you do put your baby to bed witha bottle, fill it only with water.)Here are some other thingsyou can do: Between feedings, don’t give yourbaby a bottle or sippy cup filledwith sweet drinks to carry around. Near his first birthday, teach yourchild to drink from an open cup. If your baby uses a pacifier, don’tdip it in anything sweet like sugaror honey.
5Take your childto the dentist.Your child should have a dental visit by his first birthday.At this visit, the dentist will: Check your child’s teeth. Show you the best way to clean your child’s teeth. Talk to you about other things such as a healthy diet andfluoride that can keep your child’s mouth healthy.
For more copies contact:National Institute of Dentaland Craniofacial ResearchNational Oral HealthInformation Clearinghouse1 NOHIC WayBethesda, MD 20892-35001-866-232-4528www.nidcr.nih.govThis publication is not copyrighted.You may make as manyphotocopies as you need.NIH Publication No. 17-2884August 2017NIH Turning Discovery Into Health
teeth to help them chew and to speak clearly. And baby teeth hold space for adult teeth. This booklet can help you keep your baby's mouth healthy and give him a healthy start! A Healthy Mouth for Your Baby 1. Protect your baby's teeth with fluoride. 2. Check and clean your baby's teeth.
